Goodbye, Grape Ape: Oregon Bans Kid-Friendly Strain Names

Oregon strain aficionados may be saying goodbye to some of their favorite strain names, under new rules announced last week by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC). The Commission passed a temporary rule that clarifies the restrictions on product wording associated with products marketed by or to children. Goodbye, Bruce Banner. So long, Girl Scout Cookies.

State law allows the Commission to regulate cannabis strain names that they deem attractive to minors. The new rule directs OLCC staff to restrict a narrow set of strains that refer to cartoon characters, or names associated with toys and or games marketed to or by children. Companies that have products with the names on it will not be subject to immediate enforcement, said OLCC Executive Director Steve Marks. He said the agency will help inform companies so they can screen out future packaging that contains the names.

After reviewing about 500 cannabis strain names, OLCC staff narrowed the cut list to fewer than 20 strains. The OLCC will work with the industry to correct both packaging and labeling compliance issues.

If you are in Oregon, look out for more guidance and lists of suspect names that will be regulated like the list below from the OLCC, as they will work on these issues as it finalizes its overall permanent rules later this year.

Licensees can also submit strain names to marijuana.packaging@oregon.com to seek guidance on this “attractiveness to children” standard. The full list of banned names, with explanations from the OLCC, can be found in the table below:

Example

RATIONALE

STRAIN/MARKETING PHRASE

DERIVATIVE STRAINS

NOTES

Marketed by & Marketed to Children

Girl Scout Cookies

Platinum Girl Scout Cookies, Thin Mint GSC

Cookies sold primarily door to door by the youth organization the Girl Scouts of America

Marketed to Children

Grape Ape

Children's cartoon character produced by Hanna Barbera

Marketed to Children

Candyland

Child's board game by Hasbro

Marketed to Children

Charlotte's Web

Children's book by E.B. White

Marketed to Children

Cinderella

Cinderella 99

Children's storybook character

Marketed to Children

Dr. Who

Fictional character currently marketed to children including cartoon show

Marketed to Children

Bubblelicous

Bubblegum specifically marketed directly to children

Marketed to Children

Smurf

Smurfette, Smurf Pussy

Children's cartoon characters and popular franchise

Marketed to Children

Bruce Banner

Bruce Banner #3, GG#4/Bruce Banner

Alter ego of popular Marvel children's cartoon character the Hulk

Marketed to Children

Death Star

Reference to the popular Star Wars franchise marketed to children

Marketed to Children

Skywalker

Skywalker OG

Reference to the popular Star Wars franchise marketed to children

Marketed to Children

Jedi Kush

Reference to the popular Star Wars franchise marketed to children

Contains Untruthful or Misleading Content

LSD

Is the common street name for illegal drug if contained in the package would constitute adulterated content.

Contains Untruthful or Misleading Content

Blow

Is the common street name for illegal drug if contained in the package would constitute adulterated content.

Leafly staff writer Gage Peake specializes in data journalism, sports, and breaking news coverage. He's a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's College of Journalism and Mass Communications. Send him news and data tips at gage.peake@leafly.com or find him on Twitter.